Nashauna Drummond, Staff Reporter
ADMINISTRATOR AT the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities Valerie Spence, says that as a country Jamaica has come a far way. She noted that corporate entities such as hotels and banks have put in amenities (such as wheelchair ramps and specially marked parking spaces) to facilitate persons with physical disabilities.
"At the Sovereign Centre mall in Liguanea, St. Andrew, facilities are quite accessible. It's not the best, but provisions are being made for us. Some organisations make their doors accessible but that's about it," she said.
She noted, however, that we are doing much better than we were in the 80s and we are more advanced than many other Caribbean countries.
People's attitudes to persons with disabilities are also improving. People are more aware of persons with disabilities. There is now a Government policy which stipulates that five per cent of public sector jobs should be made available to persons with disabilities who are qualified for the posts.
JUTC
The Jamaica Urban Transit Company has two buses that are specially equipped to transport persons with physical disabilities. One operates from Portmore via Half-Way Tree to Papine and the other from Harbour View (via Half-Way Tree) to Constant Spring (Manor Park).
